well, That's Show Biz, 09-03-2023 2-23 Labor Day 2

Labor Day 2

“Well, That’s Show Biz!”

09-03-2023

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• Welcome to “Hwell, That’s Show Biz!”. I am your host, Jeremy Freedman, and each week I bring you music from Broadway, Movies, and Entertainers along with some anecdotes, information, and commentary all based on a theme.

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• Tomorrow is Labor Day. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the law making the first Monday in September a holiday celebrating workers and their achievements. Some facts: In the late 1800s, the average American worked 12-hour days, 7 days a week. In some states, children as young as 5 or 6 worked in mills, factories, and mines. Many workers, especially the very poor and recent immigrants toiled in unsafe working conditions with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary conditions, and breaks. It was the rise of unions that changed these terrible labor practices and helped create the Middle Class. Our show today honors Unions and workers.

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• We are going to open the show with a musical that takes place in a Pajama factory. The Pajama Game opens with the title song and a song that exemplifies the working conditions of the pajama seamstresses, “Racing with the Clock”. Next, the musical Working ia based on the book Working:People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do by Studs Terkel. We are going to hear Lynn Thigpen sing the song “Cleanin’ Woman”. Then, Sean Hayes played the lead in the revival of Promises, Promises where he played a junior executive at an insurance company who seeks to climb the corporate ladder by allowing his apartment to be used by his married superiors for their secret affairs. In the song “Half as Big as Life” he expresses his frustrations and hopes for career advancement. And finally, They’re Playing Our Song is loosely based on the initial meeting and romance between composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Carol Bayer Sager. The song “Workin’ It Out” deals with their first collaborative work experience. Here’s The Pajama Game.

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• You just heard the title song to The Pajama Game and “Racing with the Clock”, “Cleanin’ Woman” from Working, “Half as Big as Life” from Promises, Promises, and “Workin’ It Out” from They’re Playing Our Song as we celebrate Labor Day today on “well, That’s Show Biz!”.

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• <PSA>

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• We are celebrating Labor Day today on “well, That’s Show Biz!”, and we are going to open the second set with “I Hope I Get It”, the opening number from A Chorus Line. Next, we are going to hear “What’s Inside” from the musical Waitress. Then, another waitress sings “Ooh! My Feet” from The Most Happy Fella. And we conclude this set with “Been a Long Day” from the 2011 revival of How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying which starred Daniel Radcliffe. Here’s “I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line.

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• You just heard “I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line, “What’s Inside” from Waitress, “Ooh! My Feet!” from The Most Happy Fella, and “Been a Long Day” from How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying as we Celebrate tomorrow’s Labor Day today.

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• <Underwriting>

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• You are listening to “well, That’s Show Biz!” on [Station ID].

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• And we are celebrating Labor Day today. We are going to open our third set with Allison Janney and the cast of Nine to Five with the title song. Then, the musical review Pins and Needles, first performed in 1937, looked at current events from a pro-union standpoint and was produced by The International Ladies Garment Workers. A studio recording was released in 1962 in commemoration of the show’s 25th Anniversary. It featured the newcomer, Barbra Streisand. We are going to hear her sing “Nobody Makes a Pass At Me”. And finally, we will hear “Ol’ Man River” from Show Boat a song that contrasts the struggles and hardships of African Americans with the uncaring and endless flow of the Mississippi River. Here’s Nine to Five.

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• You just heard the title song to the musical Nine to Five, “Nobody Makes a Pass At Me” from the Ladies Garment Workers produced Pins and Needles, and “Ol’ Man River” from Show Boat as we celebrate Labor Day today.

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• <Other Show Promo>

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• <PSA>

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• If you would like to help out with a future show, you can send me your theme and song suggestions to wruushowbiz@gmail.com. And if you are enjoying today’s show, contact the station at WRUU.org and let them know.

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• And now to complete our Labor Day show, The musical She Loves Me takes place in a parfumery where they sell gifts like perfumes and make-up. We are going to hear the song “Sounds While Selling”. Then we are going to go back to the show Working to hear the song “Millwork”. And we are going to close the show with the Newsies singing “Carrying the Banner”. Here’s “Sounds While Selling” from She Loves Me.

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• You just heard “Sounds While Selling” from She Loves Me, “Millwork” from Working, and “Carrying the Banner” from Newsies as we finish our celebration of Labor Day.

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• If you would like to help out with a future show, send me your theme and song suggestions to wruushowbiz@gmail.com. And if you enjoyed today’s show, contact the station at WRUU.org and let them know.  See you next week.